Safety ski binding

ABSTRACT

In response to the application of a skiing boot to a ski, the safety ski binding automatically establishes therebetween a connection which can be eliminated arbitrarily by the operation of a release member and automatically in response to a force which is dangerous to the skier&#39;&#39;s leg. The binding comprises an intercepting belt or the like, which establishes an additional connection between the skiing boot and the ski and does not prevent the automatic release of the ski from its firm connection to the skiing boot and is connected at one end to one part of a clutch, which can be opened by the operation of a release member. That part of the clutch to which one end of the intercepting belt or the like is connected forms a linkage member of a linkage which transmits a force from the skiing boot to the ski or vice versa. Said linkage member is connected between the joint for the arbitrary opening of the binding and the joint for the automatic opening of the binding and forms also a part of the safety release mechanism.

United States Patent n91 Zahradka 1 1 June 10, 1975 1 1 SAFETY SKIBINDING [76] Inventor: Johann Zahradka. Lassallestrasse 30/21. Wien.Austria 1121 Filed: Nov. 8. 1971 [211 Appl. No: 196585 Related US.Application Data [63] Continuation o1 Ser. No. 866.228. Oct. 14. 1969,

Primary ExaminerRobert R. Song Attorney. Agent, or Firm--Fleit &Jacobson 1571 ABSTRACT in response to the application of a skiing bootto a ski, the safety ski binding automatically establishes therehetweena connection which can be eliminated arbitrarily by the operation ofarelease member and automatically in response to a force which isdangerous to the skiers leg. The binding comprises an intercepting beltor the like, which establishes an additional con nection between theskiing boot and the ski and does not prevent the automatic release ofthe ski from its firm connection to the skiing boot and is connected atone end to one part of a clutch, which can be opened by the operation ofa release member. That part of the clutch to which one end of theintercepting belt or the like is connected forms a linkage member of alinkage which transmits a force from the skiing boot to the ski or viceversa. Said linkage member is connected between the joint for thearbitrary opening of the binding and the joint for the automatic openingof the binding and forms also a part of the safety release mechanism.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUM 10 m5 3,888,497 SHEET 1JNVENTOR: JOHANN ZAHRADKA ATTORNEYS PATENTEIJJUH 10 1975 sum 2 Fig.3

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INVI-IN'I'URt JOHANN ZAHRADKA RYI ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUH 10 ms a68a497SHEET 3 INVENTORI JOHANN ZAHRADKA SAFETY SKI BINDING This is acontinuation ot'application Ser. No. hbbllb filed ()ct. l4. t me. nowabandonedv The present imentton relates to a safety ki inding. which inresponse to the application of a skiing boot to a ski automaticallyestablishes therebetw een a connection. which can be eliminatedarbitrarily by the opera tion of a release member and automatically inresponse to a force which is dangerous to the skier's leg. said bindingcomprising an intercepting belt or the iike. which establishes anadditional connection between the skiing boot and the ski and does notprevent the automatic release of the ski from its firm connection to theskiing boot and is connected at one end to one part of a clutch. hichcan be opened by the operation of a re lease member.

In such a ski binding. which has been known so far only from a printedpublication. the clutch for the retaining belt is provided in additionto the safety release mechanism and is disposed beside the same. Such astructure consists of a large number of parts and is expensive as wellas easily deranged. This may be the reason why that safety ski bindinghas not been accepted in practice.

It is an object of the present invention so to design a safety skibinding of the type described first that it has the same desirableproperties as the latter in respect of safety and ease of operation butis free of the abovementioned disadvantages.

In a safety ski binding. which in response to the application of askiing boot to a ski automatically establishes therebetween a connectionwhich can be eliminated arbitrarily by the operation of a release memberand automatically in response to a force which is dangerous to theskicr's leg. said binding comprising an intercepting belt or the like.which establishes an additional connection between the skiing boot andthe ski and does not prevent the automatic release of the ski from thefirm connection to the skiing boot and is connected at one end to onepart of a clutch. which can be opened by the operation of a releasemember. this object is accomplished according to the invention in thatthat part of the clutch to which one end of the intercepting belt or thelike is connected forms a linkage member of a linkage which transmits aforce from the skiing boot to the ski or vice versa. and said linkagemember is connected between the joint for the arbitrary opening of thebinding and the joint for the automatic opening of the binding and formsalso a part of the safety release mechanism.

The known safety ski binding comprises a toeholding device and aheclholding device; these devices are to be secured to the ski beforeand behind the skiers foot. However. the invention is not restricted tosuch devices but can be embodied in a particularly good and simplemanner in safety ski bindings which are disposed under the skiers foot.If properly designed. these safety ski bindings need not compriseseparate devices for holding the skiing boot at two points which aresubstantially spaced apart.

In a development of the invention. the linkage member to which one endof the intercepting belt or the like is connected may be disposedbetween the ski and that joint in the force-transmitting linkage whichserves for the automatic opening of the linkage. whereas the sec ond endof the intercepting belt is connected to the skiing boot.

Alternatively. said linkage member may be connected between the skiingboot and the joint which is provided in the linkage and serves for thearbitrary opening of the binding. whereas the second end of theintercepting belt is connected to the ski.

In the safety ski bindings which consist of a toeholding device and aheel-holding device for the skiing boot. it has proved desirable.particularly for structural reasons. to include said linkage member inthe linkage for transmitting a force acting on the heel-holding device.

A desirable embodiment of the safety ski binding according to theinvention will be obtained if at least one safety release mechanism isaccommodated in the sole ofthe skiing boot. Particularly in suchembodiment. the safety release mechanism may comprise elements fortaking up torsional and tensile forces.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings. in which FIG. I is a sideelevation of the heel-holding device of a safety ski binding.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line IIII in FIG. andshowing the device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line IIIIII.

FIG. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a heel-holdingdevice according to a second em bodiment.

FIG. Sis a sectional view taken on line V\/ in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 is atop plan view showing the device of FIG. 4 partly cut open to improvethe showing of details.

The heel-holding device shown in FIGS. 1-3 is held on the ski 3 by meansof a bridge member I. which is connected to the ski by screws 2. Twoangle members 4, 5 are held between two vertical walls of the bridgemember so as to be displaceable transversely to the longitudinaldirection of the ski. The horizontal flange of each angle member restson the ski and has a recess which receives a stop 6 that is provided onthe bridge member. The stops are abutted by leaf springs 7, which act onthe angle members 4, 5 and tend to hold them in their inner limitingposition. A pull rod 8 which ex tends out of the bridge member 1 towardthe rear end of the ski serves to displace the angle members 4, 5outwardly against the force of the leaf springs 7. The pull rod isoperable, e.g., by means ofa ski stick in a manner not shown.

As is apparent from FIG. 2, the two upwardly dircctcd flanges of theangle members 4. 5 are outwardly offset and have each a slot I0. whichis parallel to the surface of the ski. Two locking portions 11 of aclutch part 12 extend into said slots in the normal operating positionof the safety ski binding. The clutch part 12 shown in FIG. 2 issubstantially U-shaped and receives a guide member 13. which togetherwith the clutch part is accommodated in a recess 14 of the sole of askiing boot 15, which is indicated in dash-dot lines. The guide memberI3 is firmly connected to the skiing boot. e.g.. by screws 16, andconsists of a sleeve. which extends transversely to the longitudinaldirection of the ski and receives two locking members 17. which arebiased by two helical compression springs I8 and are normally held intheir outer limiting position shown in FIG. 2. In that position. theouter ends of the locking members engage the underside of locking nosesformed by the limbs of the clutch part [2. Seen from the inner ends ofthe locking noses. the limbs of the clutch part diverge and form obliquecumming surfaces One end of an intercepting belt 19 is riveted to thatlimb of the clutch part [2 which is on the right in FIG. 2. The otherend of the intercepting belt is not shown and has. e.g.. a buckle. bywhich it is secured to the skiing boot.

The safety release mechanism of the heel-holding device which has justbeen described is firmly connected to the skiing boot [5. For anarbitrary elimination of the connection between the skiing boot and theski 3. the skier must pull the pull rod 8 toward the rear end of theski, e.g.. with the point of his ski stick. In this operation. thetrapezoidal inner end ofthe pull rod exerts a pushing wedge action onthe angle members 4, to displace the same outwardly against the force ofthe leaf springs 7. In their outermost [JOSiIlOtL the angle membersrelease the locking members ll ofthe clutch part [2 so that the skiingboot can now be lifted from the ski so that the clutch part 12 remainsconnected to the skiing boot by the locking members 17 and the guidemember 13. It will not be necessary then to disconnect that end of theintercepting belt 19 which is not shown from the ski before the skiingboot is lifted. For skiing. it is sufficient for the skier to place hisboot 15 on the proper part of the ski 3. This causes the lockingportions 1] of the clutch part 12 to run up on the oblique surfaces onthe inside of the upwardly directed flanges of the angle members 4, 5and push the same apart against the force of the leafsprings 7. When theclutch part 12 comes to rest on the bridge member 1, its locking members11 will register with the slots 10 so that the leaf springs 7 move theangle members 4, 5

back to their normal position. in which they prevent an unintendedlifting of the clutch part from the ski.

If the heel of the skiing boot I5 is subjected to an approximatelyvertically upwardly directed tensile force which is dangerous for theleg of the skier. said force will cause a displacement of the lockingmembers 17 against the force of the springs 18 in that the outer ends ofthe locking members run up on the locking noses formed by the limbs ofthe clutch part and finally disengage from said noses. As the lockingmembers disengage from the locking noses. the firm connection betweenthe skiing boot and the ski is eliminated so that the leg of the fallingskier cannot suffer a typical skiing injury. During that safety release.the clutch part 12 remains connected to the ski. so that the same cannotcontinue to fly or slip without restraint because the ski remainsconnected to the skiing boot by the intercepting belt 19.

The connection by the intercepting belt need not be eliminated beforethe skiing boot is subsequently placed on the ski. In this case. thefree ends of the locking members 17 engage the oblique camming surfacesformed on the free limb ends of the clutch part 12 and as the skiingboot is forced down the free ends of the locking members 17 are forcedinwardly against the force of the helical compression springs 18 so thatthey can disengage the locking noses of the clutch part. Hence. theskiing condition is very quickly reestab lished.

If the heel-holding device just described is subjected to laterally andupwardly directed. oblique forces, these will result in a release soonerthan a vertically upwardly directed force because they cause a pivotalmovement olonly one of the locking members 17 from its locking positionabout a fulcrum formed by the free end of the other locking member. Thatlateral pivotal disengagement substantially prevents ankle injury. The 5heel-holding device is intended to cooperate with a suitable safety toeiron, which responds to torsional forces. For this reason theheel-holding device has a sufficient freedom of pivotal movement aboutthe pivotal axis of the skiing boot in both directions.

The hecl-hoiding device shown in FIGS 4-6 is car ried on the ski 22beside a skiing boot 21 shown in dashdot lines. The bascplate 23 can bcscrew connected to the ski by means which are not shown. Two strongleafsprings Z5. 26 are held on the bascplatc by suitable means. e.g.. byan intermediate member 24. and have inwardly angled free end portions.which form locking cams 27, 28 (sec FIGS. 5 and 6 l. A locking member 29is normally held interlocked between the end portions of the leafsprings and is firmly con nected to one end of an intercepting belt 30.The other end is connected to the ski directly or by a fixed part of thedevice. That connection is not shown. A backing wall 31 extendingupwardly from the baseplate is dis posed closely behind the lockingmember. A slider 32 extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski andis capable ofa limited displacement in that direction. The slider 32 hasa free end portion which extends through and is guided in an aperture inthe backing wall. The slider has a vertical aperture 33. through whichthe intermediate member 24 extends to limit the displacement of theslider. An upwardly extending arm 34 of the slider is acted upon by ahelical compression spring 35. which bears on the backing wall 31 andholds the slider normally in its outer limiting position.

On its side facing the skiing boot. the locking mem' ber 29 has avertical recess. which is dovetail-shaped in cross-section and serves toreceive a corresponding dovetail-shaped part 36 of a connecting member37, which is provided at the rear end of the sole of the boot and isconnected to the sole of the boot in a suitable manner. e.g., by beingvulcanized or screw'connccted thereto. The connecting member comprises astop 38 (sec particularly FIG. 4). which prevents the locking member 29from being pulled upwardly from the dovetail-shaped part 36. On thatside of the part 36 which is opposite to the locking member 29, theconnecting member 37 is provided with a U-shaped element 39, which atits free end carries an outwardly directed nose 40. The U shaped elementis shown in FIG. 4 in its nor mal position, from which it is pivotallymovable to the right in FIG. 4 against its inherent elasticity oragainst spring force. When the U-shaped element is in its normalposition. the nose 40 prevents the locking member 29 from being pulleddown from the dovetail-shaped member 36. The locking member can bepulled down from the dovetail-shaped member 36 when the nose is forcedback by the slider 32. The latter is upwardly offset at its end which isdirected to the rear end of the ski to form an operating handle M. Theslider can be operated by a ski stick point 42, which is indicated indashdot lines and which can be engaged with the baseplatc 23 and duringa pivotal movement of the ski stick to the right in the drawing bears onan abutment formed by a bent-up end portion 43 of the baseplate.

FlGS. 4-6 show the heelholding device and the skiing boot in a lockedposition. The connection between the skiing boot and the heel-holdingdevice can be arbitrarily eliminated in that the slider 32 is displaced.e.g.. by the ski stick point 42. toward the skiing boot 2] against theforce of the helical compression spring 35. This causes a pivotalmovement of the t'-shaped element 3) to move the nose 40 away front theheelholding device so that the skiing boot can he lifted and the part 36can be pulled upwardly out of the aperture of the locking member 29. Theinterlock between the locking member 29 and the ends of the leaf springs25, 26 is maintained. Because the locking member is connected to theouter end olthe intercepting belt. it is not necessary to disconnect theintercepting belt before the skiing boot is lifted from the ski.

in this embodiment too. it is sufficient for the skier to insert theboot 21 into the binding before he can start skiing. As the boot 2] isinserted into the binding. the nose 40 engages on the locking member 29and is forced aside under the action of the oblique camming surface.Thereafter. the dovetail-shaped part 36 enters the recess ofthe lockingmember. When the sole of the boot comes to rest on the surface of theski directly or indirectly by means of supporting and sliding plates.the U-shaped element 39 springs back so that the nose 40 again engagesthe locking member to prevent an unintended release of the skiing bootfrom the locking member.

When the heel of the skiing boot 2] is subjected to an approximatelyvertically upwardly directed tensile force which is dangerous to theskiers leg. said force will cause the locking member 29 to spread theleaf springs 25, 26 apart until the locking cams 27, 28 of said springrelease the locking member. As the locking member is released from theleaf spring ends. the firm connection between the skiing boot and theski is eliminated. Because the locking member 29 is held firmly to theskiing boot 2] by the connecting member 37, the connection between theskiing boot and the ski 22 is maintained by the intercepting belt 30 sothat the ski cannot fly or slip away under no restraint.

This connection by the intercepting belt need not be eliminated beforethe skiing boot is subsequently placed back on the ski. When the skiingboot is placed on the ski, the locking member 29 enters back between theends of the two leaf springs 25, 26. which are thus forced apart so thatthe locking member can return to its normal position, in which it isreliably held by the cams 27. 28.

As is apparent from HO. 4, the ends of the leaf springs 25, 26 slightlyengage the locking member 29 on the side facing the skiing boot. Thiswill ensure that the locking member cannot be readily pulled offforwardly when the skiing boot is not in the binding and that thelocking member can be released in response to dangerous torsional forcesacting on the skiing boot. Hence. it will not be necessary to provide aconventional safety toe iron if the heel-holding device is properlydesigned. It will be understood that excessively large diagonal forceswill also result in a release of the locking member so that thisheel-holding device affords maximum safety.

If it is desirable to provide a heel-holding device which can beadjusted to different values of the force required fora release, thisadjustment will easily be enabled if the baseplate 23 carries twoeccentric members 44, which are respectively engaged by the leaf springs25 and 26. These eccentric members. which are indicated in dash-dotlines. can be rotated to vary the initial stress of the springs and theforce required for a release.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety ski binding which. upon the placing of a ski boot on a ski.automatically effects the connecting thereof by a coupling. saidcoupling being adapted to be disconnected intentionally by actuation ofa release and unintentionally upon the occurrence of a force which isdangerous for the leg of the skier. and comprising a retaining meanssecured to said ski and a retaining means secured to said boot. anintermediate element positioned between and releasably connected to bothsaid retaining means. a catch element connected to said intermediateelement. said catch element serving as additional connection between skiboot and ski. and means on both sides of said intermediate elementproviding for a separate point of disconnection of the coupling. one ofsaid points serving for the intentional opening of the binding and theother for the unintentional opening of the coupling.

2. A safety ski binding according to claim I, wherein said ski retainingmeans comprises a plurality of slot defining angle members secured tosaid ski and said boot retaining means comprises a recess and aplurality of locking members slidably mounted in said recess. saidintermediate element having portions which are engagable in said slotsand portions which engage said locking members with the intermediateelement lying on the ski side as seen from the place of disconnection ofthe coupling for the unintentional opening of the binding. while thecatch element is connected with the ski boot.

3. A safety ski binding according to claim I. wherein said ski retainingmeans comprises a plurality of slot defining members and said bootretaining means comprises a recess and locking means mounted in saidrecess, said intermediate element having portions which are mounted insaid slots and portions which engage said locking means with theintermediate element lying on the side of the ski boot. as seen from theplace of disconnection of the coupling. for the unintentional opening ofthe binding, with the second end of the catch ele ment being connectedwith the ski.

4. A safety ski binding according to claim 1. wherein the coupling isarranged at least in part in the sole of the ski boot.

5. A safety ski binding according to claim I. wherein the coupling hasmeans to take up turning and pulling forces.

6. A device for fastening a ski boot to a ski, which binds the bootautomatically to the ski when the ski boot is applied to the ski, sothat the binding can be released intcntionally through the operation ofa release and unintentionally upon the occurrence of a force whichendangers the leg of the skier; said binding comprising coupling meanswhich binds the ski boot to the ski, closes automatically when the bootis placed on the ski and is manually releasable, characterized by anintermediate element positioned between the boot and the ski, lockingmeans releasably holding said intermediate element to the ski forintentional releasable lock ing to the ski; said locking meanscomprising angle members attached to the ski. said angle membersdefining slots with said intermediate member being mounted in saidslots. pull means slidably mounted on said ski adapted to move saidangle members. and springloaded catch piece means releasably holdingsaid intermediate element to the boot. said spring-loaded catch meanscomprising a recess defined by said sole. and two spring-loaded membersslidahly mounted in said recess. said two spring-loaded members engagingsaid intermediate element. so that said spring-loaded eaieh pieee meansis adapted to release from said intermedL Ill

1. A safety ski binding which, upon the placing of a ski boot on a ski,automatically effects the connecting thereof by a coupling, saidcoupling being adapted to be disconnected intentionally by actuation ofa release and unintentionally upon the occurrence of a force which isdangerous for the leg of the skier, and comprising a retaining meanssecured to said ski and a retaining means secured to said boot, anintermediate element positioned between and releasably connected to bothsaid retaining means, a catch element connected to said intermediateelement, said catch element serving as additional connection between skiboot and ski, and means on both sides of said intermediate elementproviding for a separate point of disconnection of the coupling, one ofsaid points serving for the intentional opening of the binding and theother for the unintentional opening of the coupling.
 2. A safety skibinding according to claim 1, wherein said ski retaining means comprisesa plurality of slot defining anGle members secured to said ski and saidboot retaining means comprises a recess and a plurality of lockingmembers slidably mounted in said recess, said intermediate elementhaving portions which are engagable in said slots and portions whichengage said locking members with the intermediate element lying on theski side as seen from the place of disconnection of the coupling for theunintentional opening of the binding, while the catch element isconnected with the ski boot.
 3. A safety ski binding according to claim1, wherein said ski retaining means comprises a plurality of slotdefining members and said boot retaining means comprises a recess andlocking means mounted in said recess, said intermediate element havingportions which are mounted in said slots and portions which engage saidlocking means with the intermediate element lying on the side of the skiboot, as seen from the place of disconnection of the coupling, for theunintentional opening of the binding, with the second end of the catchelement being connected with the ski.
 4. A safety ski binding accordingto claim 1, wherein the coupling is arranged at least in part in thesole of the ski boot.
 5. A safety ski binding according to claim 1,wherein the coupling has means to take up turning and pulling forces. 6.A device for fastening a ski boot to a ski, which binds the bootautomatically to the ski when the ski boot is applied to the ski, sothat the binding can be released intentionally through the operation ofa release and unintentionally upon the occurrence of a force whichendangers the leg of the skier; said binding comprising coupling meanswhich binds the ski boot to the ski, closes automatically when the bootis placed on the ski and is manually releasable, characterized by anintermediate element positioned between the boot and the ski, lockingmeans releasably holding said intermediate element to the ski forintentional releasable locking to the ski; said locking means comprisingangle members attached to the ski, said angle members defining slotswith said intermediate member being mounted in said slots, pull meansslidably mounted on said ski adapted to move said angle members, andspring-loaded catch piece means releasably holding said intermediateelement to the boot, said spring-loaded catch means comprising a recessdefined by said sole, and two spring-loaded members slidably mounted insaid recess, said two spring-loaded members engaging said intermediateelement, so that said spring-loaded catch piece means is adapted torelease from said intermediate element under the application of a forcewhich is dangerous to the leg of the skier; with said intermediatemember and said boot being permanently connected by a holding strap.